Car coupler



April 29, 1958 w. J. METZGER 2,332,477

CAR COUPLER Filed May 10. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 COUPLING LINE\ COUPLINGLINE INVENTOR. WILL/AM METZGER April 9 w. J.,METZ\GER 2,832,477

CAR COUPLER Filed May 10, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. VVILL/AM JMETZGER A T TO/PNE Y April 29, 1958 w. J. METZGER 2,832,477

CAR COUPLER Filed May 10. 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 /COUPLING LINE Fig. 3

X OF PROPOSED AAR- TYPE F l/VTERLOCK 1N8 COUPLER COUPLING LINE INVENTOR.WILL/AM J METZGL'R BYDZQ 446 ATT RNEY April 29, 1958 w. J. METZGER- CARCOUPLER 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed May 10. 1952 INVENTOR. W/LL/AM' J METZGERBY W g A TTOANE Y CAR COUPLER William J. Metzger, East Cleveland, Ohio,assignor to National Malleable and Steel Castings Company, Cleveland,Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application May 10, 1952, Serial No. 287,15510 Claims. (Cl. 213-151) This invention relates to railway car couplers.

During switching of cars in railroad classification yards, miscouplingof cars occasionally occurs when, either through inadvertence oraccident, the knuckles of the couplers on two cars approaching forcoupling are partially or completely closed. When the couplers cometogether under these conditions, the noses of the opposing knuckles willengage and in addition the heel of each knuckle will engage the innerside of the guard arm of the opposing coupler, resulting in a wedgingaction which exerts a force against the guard arm and may cause guardarm distortion or failure. standard E couplers, the danger of distortionof the guard arms is remote, since very little wedging action againstthe arms is produced as the couplers engage with their knuckles inclosed position.

However, under the above conditions, when an E coupler is engaged withan interlocking type coupler, such as the proposed A. A. R. Type-Finterlocking coupler, which has an extended guard arm, a severe wedgingaction occurs. This action has actually resulted in the distortion andfailure of the guard arm of the Type-F couplers in service. This severewedging action also occurs when two Type-F couplers come into engagementwith their knuckles closed. Substantially the same condition exists whentwo A. A. R. tightlock couplers approach for coupling with theirknuckles closed.

My invention consists in so forming the contour of the inner side of theguard arm of the interlocking type coupler that when, under the aboveconditions, the coupler is engaged with a similar coupler, or with an Ecoupler, the wedging action tending to distort the guard arms of thecouplers is materially reduced. More specifically, the improved contouris directed to that portion of the guard arm which lies forwardly of thecoupling line of the coupler. This contour is preferably so formed as toprovide an abutment which is adapted to be engaged by the heel of theknuckle of the opposing coupler, thereby considerably reducing thewedging action tending to distort the guard arm.

The Various features and advantages of my invention will be apparentfrom the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of couplers embodying my invention,the couplers being shown in the position they assume upon engagementwith their knuckles in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a coupler embodying my inventionand an A. A. R. standard E coupler, the couplers being shown in theposition they assume upon engagement with their knuckles in closedposition.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view of the guard arm of a couplerembodying my invention.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of a pair of A. A. R. standard E couplers engagedwith their knuckles in closed position.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the existing proposed A. A. R.

States Patent Considering two A. A. R.

TypeF Interlocking coupler and an A. A. R. standard E coupler engagedwith their knuckles in closed position.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of a pair of existing proposed A. A. R. Type-FInterlocking couplers engaged with their knuckles in closed positioReference will be made firstto the miscoupling conditions that may occurwith the present A. A. R. standard E coupler and the present proposed A.A. R. Type-F Interlocking coupler.

Referring to Fig. 4, there are shown two E couplers which have beenbrought into engagement with their knuckles 10in closed position. I'twill be noted that the end surface 12 of guard arm 14 lies on thecoupling line of the coupler. Moreover, the lateral spacing of the guardarm from the nose of the knuckle is such that the heel of the knuckle ofthe opposing coupler engages the guard arm at the juncture of endsurface 12' with the inner side 16 of the guard arm, as at 1.8.Engagement also occurs between the noses 20 of the knuckles as at 22.The tangents to points of contact 18 and 22 form a wedge angle of about89 /2 degrees. Under these conditions, it will be apparent that thelongitudinal force, as the couplers come together, is transmitted to theguard arms of the couplers very nearly as a direct bufiing force Wapplied at the end of the guard arm, thus producing very little wedgingaction tending to distort the guard arms laterally outwardly.

Referring to Fig. 5, there are shown the E coupler and the existingproposed A. A. R. Type-F Interlocking coupler in engaged position, withtheir knuckles closed. The guard arm 30 of the Type-F coupler extends asubstantial distance forwardly of the coupling line of the coupler sothat the lateral spacing between the nose 3.2 of the knuckle 34 and theguard arm for reception of the knuckle of an opposing coupler is greaterthan in the E coupler. Consequently the heel of the E knuckle 10 engagesthe guard arm 30 along the inner side thereof at a point inwardly of theend of the guard arm, but forwardly of the coupling line, as at 33. Theknuckle noses engage as at 35. The wedge angle formed by tangents tothese points of contact is about 59% degrees. It will be apparent thatwith such a wedge angle for any given longitudinal blow applied to thecouplers, the force W exerted against guard 'arm 30 has a substantiallateral component. Moreover, due to the increased length of the guardarm, the force W is applied at a moment arm, as measured from theintersection of the inner side 36 of the guard arm with front surface 37of the coupler head of approximately 6 inches, as compared with a momentarm of about 3 inches for the E couplers shown in Fig. 4. The wedgingaction thus produced against guard arm 30 may cause distortion thereofin the event the couplers come into engagement under severe bufiingblows.

It will be noted in Fig. 5 that a wedge angle of about 88 /2 degreesexists with respect to the E coupler. This angle is substantially thesame as exists between two E couplers, as shown in Fig. 4.

Referring to Fig. 6, there are shown two existing pro posed Type-Finterlocking couplers engaged under the same conditions as in Figs. 4and 5. The wedge angle formed between the tangents to the points ofcontact between the couplers is about 64 degrees and the moment arm ofthe force W exerted against the guard arm by the opposing knuckle isabout 6 inches. While this wedge angle is not as small as for thecouplers in Fig. 5, the force W has a substantial lateral component and.the danger of guard arm distortion under severe bufl'ing blows appliedto the couplers is present.

Referring now to Fig. 1 there is shown a pair of existing proposed A. A.R. Type-F Interlocking couplers each having, in accordance with myinvention, the inner side 36 of the guard arm 36 relieved, as at 38,from the point X outward to the end of theguard arm. The contour ofsurface 38 preferably closely follows that of the heel portion 40of' thecoupler knuckle. Surface 38 as thus formed provides a curved abutmentportion 42 adjacent point X for engagement with the heel 40 of theclosed knuckle of the opposing coupler. While the heel of oneknucklecngage's the opposing; guardarm f along abutment 42,-the knucklenoses engage asat 44. 'Theweclge angle, as measured between tangents tothe two points of contact, is approximately 92-'deg rees.' This resultsin the application of the force'W' against the guard arm in adirectionmore nearly lengthwise of the coupler, with a smaller lateralcomponent than exists with couplers not'provided the improved contour.Also,1the moment arm of the force .W, as measured from the intersectionof the innersurface 36 with the front-face 37 of the coupler head,is'about 4 /2 inches, which is substantially less-than that for theexisting couplers,.a s shown in'Figs. 5" and 6. =Ac-. cordingly, when.two Type-F. couplers, embodying my invention, come intocontactwith-their-knuckles closed; asin Fig. 1 ,'the danger of guard armdistortion is subs'ta'ntially lessened;

Referringto Fig. 2, the coupler on the left is the existingfproposedType-F Interlocking coupler to which the improved contour has beenapplied, as in Fig. 1, while the coupler on the right is the standard Ecoupler. When the'couplers come together with their knuckles closed, asin this view, the wedge angle for the Type-F coupler formed bythetangents to the points of contact between the two couplers is about87 degrees. The wedge angle for the E coupler is about 89 degrees, ornearly identical with the wedge angle between two E couplers, as in Fig.4. Itwill beseen that the force W exerted against the guard 30 isdirected more nearly in a longitudinal direction, as in Fig. l, andthe'mo'ment arm of this force is about 4 1 inches. Thus the danger ofdistortion of the F coupler guard arm under the condition shown isconsiderably lessened, as compared with the couplers shown in Fig. 5.

In Fig. 3 dimensions for the improved contour of the guard arm of theType-F coupler have been shown. However, it is to be understood that thecontour need not correspond exactly to the dimensions given in order toobtain the benefits of the invention. Thus, if desired, the inner side36 of guard arm 30 may be relieved a greater amount than as shown at 38.In this connection, the dimension A, which represents the distance fromthe coupling line of the point where the improved contour commences, hasbeen omitted. It is preferred, however, that surface 38 commences atpoint X forward of the coupling line of the coupler. The dot-dash linerepresents the contour of the guard arm as it'now exists on the proposedA. A. R. Type F interlocking coupler.

While my invention substantially lessens the danger of guard armdistortion caused by miscoupling of the couplers, as above described,the improved guard arm contour'in nowise interferes with or impedesnormal coupling of the couplers. Moreover, the danger of miscoupling ofcouplers embodying the improved contour has been decreased since it ispossible to effect proper couplingunder conditions where couplers notprovided with this construction would miscouple. Thus, as two Type-Fcouplers not embodying the improved contour approach for coupling, withthe knuckle of one coupler closed, the knuckle of the opposing couplermust be in a certain minimum, partly opened position in order to efiectsuccessful coupling. However, with the improved contour applied to thesecouplers the knuckle on the opposing coupler may be closed a materialamount from the minimum,'partly opened position necessary with theexisting couplers, and successful coupling may still be obtained.Similarly the danger of miscoupling is decreased when an E coupler isbeing coupled to a Type-F coupler having the improved contour.

The terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms ofdescription and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures tween two couplers as they approach with their knuckles inclosed position, said means comprising a forwardly facing abutmentsurface on the inner side of said guard arm for engagement with theknuckle of an opposing coupler, said abutment surface'being ofsubstantial lateral extent and'being disposed forwardly of the couplingline of the coupler, said inner side being relieved from said abutmentsurface to the end of said arm.

2. A car coupler comprising a pivoted knuckle and a guard arm, saidguard arm having a forwardly and outwardly extending inner side forengagement with the knuckle ofan opposing coupler during couplingoperations, said guard arm inner side being formed with an abutmentportion for engagement with the closed knuckle of an opposing couplerwhen the couplers approach with their knuckles in closed-position, saidabutment portion comprising aforwardly facing curved surface disposedintermediate the .end of said arm and the coupling line of the coupler.

. 3. In a car. coupler having a pivoted knuckle and aforwardlyextendingguard arm, said arm extending forwardly of thecoupling line of the coupler, the inner side of said arm being relievedat a point commencing forwardly of said coupling line and extending tothe end of the arm to'form a curved forwardly facing abutment sur- 1face of'subs'tantial lateral extent for engagement with the heelportionof the knuckle of an opposing coupler when the .c'ouplersapproachwith their knuckles in closed position. i

V 4. A car coupler comprising a pivoted knuckle and a guard armextending forwardly of the coupling line of the coupler, said guard armhaving a forwardly and outwardly extending inner side for engagementwith the knuckleof an opposing coupler during coupling operations, saidguard arm inner side being so formed as to provide forwardly of thecoupling line a contour which closely follows that of the heel portionof the knuckle of an opposing coupler, said contour at the end thereofnearest the coupling line providing -a forwardly facing abut ment forengagement with the heel portion of the knuckle of an opposing couplerwhen the couplers approach with their knuckles in .closed position.

5. In a'car coupler having a pivoted knuckle and a guard armextendingforwardly of the coupling line of the coupler, the inner sideof said arm being relieved commencing from a point forwardly of thecoupling line and extending to theend of said arm, said relieved portionOfsaid arm providing a forwardly facing abutment of substantial lateralextent for engagement with the heel portion of the closed knuckle of anopposing coupler when the couplers, approach with their knuckles inclosed position, said abutment being disposed at the commencement ofsaid relieved portion.

6. A car coupler comprising a pivoted knuckle and a guard arm, said armhaving an inner side which extends forwardlyand outwardly beyond thecoupling line of the .coupler, the contour of the inner side of said armbeing so formed as to provide a knuckle heel-engaging abutment sodisposed that with said knuckle in closed position as an opposingsimilar coupler approaches with its knuckle in closed positionengagement will occur between the noses of the coupler knuckles whilethe heel of'the knuckle of the opposing coupler will engage only saidabutment, whereby the force exerted by the heel of the opposing knuckleagainst said abutment is substantially in a direction lengthwise of saidcoupler, said abutment being of substantial lateral extent.

7. In an interlocking coupler matable with a non-interlocking couplerand having a head, a pivoted knuckle and a guard arm and wing pocket onopposite sides of said head, the improvement comprising a buflingshoulder on an inner surface of said guard arm and positionedlongitudinally of said coupler to be engaged by a closed knuckle of saidnon-interlocking coupler simultaneously with engagement of the closedknuckle of said interlocking coupler with a guard arm of saidnon-interlocking coupler, said shouldered guard arm being relievedlaterally outwardly of said shoulder to accommodate said knuckle of saidnon-interlocking coupler and permit said simultaneous impact on bufiingof said couplers with knuckles closed.

8. In an interlocking coupler matable with a non-interlocking couplerand having a head, a pivoted knuckle and a guard arm and wing pocket onopposite sides of said head, the improvement comprising a pocket in aninner face of said guard arm conforming in contour to a heel of aknuckle of said non-interlocking coupler, said pocket being positionedlongitudinally of said coupler for accommodation of and impact with saidheel of said knuckle of said non-interlocking coupler simultaneouslywith impact of a guard arm of said non-interlocking coupler with theclosed knuckle of said interlocking coupler on bufiing of said couplerswith knuckles closed.

9. In an interlocking coupler having a head, a pivoted knuckle and aguard arm and wing pocket on opposite sides of said head, theimprovement comprising a recess in an inner face of said guard arm andhaving the contour of a heel of a knuckle of a non-interlocking coupler,said recess terminating inwardly longitudinally of said coupler in ashoulder engageable by said knuckle of said non-interlocking coupler onbuffing of said couplers with knuckles closed.

10. In an interlocking coupler matable with a noninterlocking couplerand having a head, a pivoted knuckle and a guard arm and wing pocket onopposite sides of said head, the improvement comprising a pocket formedin an inner face of said guard arm and having substantially the contourof a heel of a knuckle of said non-interlocking coupler, said pocketbeing olfset laterally outwardly of the longitudinal axis of saidcoupler to accommodate the closed knuckle of said non-interlockingcoupler between said guard arm and closed knuckle of said interlockingcoupler on impact of a guard arm on said noninterlocking coupler withsaid knuckle of said interlocking coupler, and a shoulder on saidinterlocking coupler guard arm defining the inner extremity of saidpocket and engageable by said knuckle of said non-interlocking couplersimultaneously with said engagement of said guard arm of saidnon-interlocking coupler and knuckle of said interlocking coupler onaligned bulfing of said couplers with said knuckles closed.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS971,882 Gallagher Oct. 4, 1910 1,752,764 Van Dorn Apr. 1, 1930 2,178,062Bazeley Oct. 31, 1939

